Aleksandre Topuria falls victim to ‘DEI Hire’ slander as ex-UFC star questions credentials
Ahead of his UFC debut, Ilia Topuria's brother, Aleksandre Topuria, faces scrutiny regarding his professional MMA record.
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Aleksandre Topuria is set to make his debut at UFC 312 (Image via Instagram/@aleksandre_topuria)
UFC 312 this weekend has attracted significant attention within the community. One reason for this excitement is the presence of several intriguing matchups and fighters on the fight card. Among the many veterans competing, there are also a few newcomers making their debuts. Notably, one of these debutants is Aleksandre Topuria, the brother of UFC featherweight champion Ilia Topuria.
Aleksandre Topuria is set to face another debutant, Colby Thicknesse, in the first fight of the prelims. However, leading up to this matchup, Alexandre has faced some scrutiny from the UFC community. Former UFC star Derek Brunson specifically shared his thoughts on Alexandre’s inclusion in the promotion. He even made some pointed remarks, referring to Alexandre as a “DEI hire.”
DEI hire 😂😂😂 how buddy get in at 5-1
Derek Brunson via X
The term “DEI hire” refers to individuals who are brought into an organization or assigned to a position based on the principles of diversity, equality, and inclusion. According to Derek Brunson, the situation surrounding Aleksandre, who has a professional MMA record of 5-1 over his 10-year career, raises questions about his inclusion in the prestigious MMA promotion, UFC.
DEI hire 😂😂😂 how buddy get in at 5-1 pic.twitter.com/ImTXuFed4Y
— Derek Brunson (@DerekBrunson) February 6, 2025
Aleksandre Topuria noted that his brother, Ilia Topuria, played a crucial role in his joining the UFC. Interestingly, Aleksandre initially showed little interest in signing with the promotion or making his UFC debut anytime soon. Instead, he preferred to gain more experience in regional MMA leagues, while Ilia was already making impressive progress in the UFC.
Is Aleksandre Topuria under ‘pressure’ being the brother of Ilia Topuria?
In the current UFC landscape, Ilia Topuria is recognized as one of the standout fighters in the promotion. His status in the UFC significantly improved after his victory over Alexander Volkanovski at UFC 298. Interestingly, following that win, Ilia also overcame a formidable challenge from Max Holloway in his first title defense for the UFC featherweight championship.
During Ilia’s impressive run in the UFC, his older brother played a significant role. Notably, the UFC featherweight champion once revealed that Aleksandre devised an effective strategy to defeat Volkanovski. However, this raises questions about whether the elder brother could replicate similar performances in the UFC. In a recent interview, Aleksandre discussed the pressure.
Listen, I don’t feel any pressure… You know where I feel pressure? I feel pressure when I have to stay with [Ilia Topuria] and show him the correct things he has to do inside the cage… Right now, he’s feeling pressure. I don’t feel any pressure. I have to go inside the cage and enjoy fighting… When he goes inside [the cage] and I stay outside, I feel pressure because I can’t do anything.
Alexandre Topuria via SHAK MMA on YouTube
Unlike Ilia, Aleksandre is set to compete in the UFC bantamweight division. There are some intriguing details about his debut fight at UFC 312. Notably, while his younger brother will be in his corner during the fight, Aleksandre’s opponent’s corner includes one of Ilia’s former rivals. Specifically, Volkanovski is set to reignite his rivalry with Ilia, this time as a cornerman.
Related: Ilia Topuria Net Worth, UFC Contract, Endorsements, and House
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Nilaav Gogoi
(608 Articles Published)